Immunisation and vaccine-preventable diseases quarterly report
July to September 2021 (Q3)

About this release

Public Health Scotland provides quarterly information on the following immunisations and vaccine-preventable diseases under surveillance in Scotland:

• Haemophilus influenzae
• measles
• meningococcal disease
• mumps
• pertussis
• invasive pneumococcal disease
• rotavirus
• rubella
• shingles

Main points

• The number of reported cases of vaccine-preventable diseases in Scotland remains low and stable. All vaccine-preventable diseases under surveillance have shown a notable reduction since early 2020. This is likely to be a result of the social distancing measures and restrictions implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The number of reported cases of invasive bacterial diseases (Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcal disease, invasive pneumococcal disease) to the end of the third quarter of 2021 (January to September) are lower than the cases reported in the equivalent period in the previous four years.
• No cases of measles have been reported since 2019. The numbers across Europe have declined during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. This trend is likely to be a result of social distancing measures and travel restrictions implemented to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, similarly interrupting the transmission of measles. However, measles activity in Europe and globally continues to pose a threat to international travellers and in Scotland as global travel restrictions are relaxed.
• There were no cases of mumps reported in the first half of 2021 and a single case reported between July and September. The number of mumps cases reported in 2020 was 853, which exceeded the 784 cases reported in 2019. Cases were highest in individuals between the ages of 17 and 34 years, which are consistent with the age groups which are likely to be under-immunised with a mumps-containing vaccine, or for whom there is waning immunity.
• In 2020, there were 198 laboratory reports of Bordetella pertussis, the majority of which occurred in the first quarter of the year. Only two cases have been reported in between January and September 2021. The reduction in case numbers is likely attributable to social distancing measures implemented to mitigate transmission of COVID-19.

Find out more

The next release of this publication will be 8 March 2022.